Any busnuts near Sorocco NM?

[gumpy]

Just putting out feelers in case I need someone. My In-Laws are having problems with their van and are stuck there for a day or so. The
Ford dealer says they can look at it in 4 weeks!  There's another mechanic there who so far has been a great help. He has filters on the
way and will install them tomorrow morning. If that doesn't do it, then it may be the fuel pump, so we'll see. After that, it's a big question.

So I thought I'd see if there is anyone there I can call on for assistance or possibly hot shot parts or something if need be.
If so, please PM or email your phone number.

craig



Mike, please delete this is a couple days.
thanks

[JohnEd]

Sorry for your difficulties, Craig.  Can you share if this is a D or gas engine and which model if there are more than one?  What are the symptoms and what has been done so far?  I have personal regret at not being able to assist you or yours....your contribution around here is enormous through the years.

Thanks again,

John

[gumpy]

Sorry for your difficulties, Craig.  Can you share if this is a D or gas engine and which model if there are more than one?  What are the symptoms and what has been done so far?  I have personal regret at not being able to assist you or yours....your contribution around here is enormous through the years.

Thanks again,

John

They have an E350 Diesel Van. not sure what engine. They're pulling the 24ft cargo trailer that he converted. They're on the way to Phoenix for a wedding and 50th anniversary (niece's wedding, sister's anniversary and grandmother of the bride). He said it pretty much stopped running just after getting off the interstate at Socorro. No power. He got turned around and went back to town. The ford dealer wouldn't even look at it, but he found this other shop that has been very helpful. They cleaned the fuel filters, which seemed to have some crud in them, and reinstalled them since there were none to be had in the small town. He tried that and said it seemed good for about 4 miles until he started up a hill. So he went back and found a campground for the night. The shop ordered some new filters from Albuquerque which will be there tomorrow
morning and the guy said if they get them in right away, it will still leave time to get a pump in by mid afternoon if it turns out be that, instead.   He also put a computer on the engine and said there are no
fault codes.

From the sounds of it, it's probably filters, so I'm really expecting it will be fixed up in the morning and they'll be on their way, but you never know, so I thought I'd put this out just in case. I know how good
busnuts are. Two years ago they had a very similar issue in the truck when he and my wife and her brother were headed to Canada to hunt bear. Same symptoms in the pickup, pulling the same trailer, only
it was in MT. I called a good busnut friend whom I've never met who lives there, and he was all over it. They got to the right place and had it fixed in no time.  It just takes finding the right people to help, and
busnuts are usually the right people, if they are in the right place at the right time.

[luvrbus]

I have friends north of him in Albuquerque if he has problems Wed I can contact those for you that is about all I can do for you sorry

good luck

[gumpy]

I have friends north of him in Albuquerque if he has problems Wed I can contact those for you that is about all I can do for you sorry

good luck

Thanks Clifford. I'll keep that in mind. We'll see what Wed brings. I'm really hoping it's just fuel filters.

[boxcarOkie]

"They cleaned the fuel filters, which seemed to have some crud in them, and reinstalled them since there were none to be had in the small town. He tried that and said it seemed good for about 4 miles until he started up a hill. "

Water in the tank?

BCO

[Busted Knuckle]

Bad fuel?
If it were me I'd get some good fuel additive and put in it and get extra filters to carry just in case.
  BK 

[rv_safetyman]

Craig, I suspect that it is a 7.3 L engine, but if it would happen to be a 6.0 L engine, they have a reputation for having computer problems from what I hear.  The Ford dealer would be able to address that issue, but the timing is terrible.  An independent person might not know how to address that issue. 

It has been a well over a year since our daughter finally gave up on their 6 L and went back in time to get a 7.3 L truck.  As I recall, the engine would just stall.  Sometimes it would restart right away and sometimes not.  They did a lot of research and found that the 6 L had a lot of reported problems.

If it is a 6L, folks here who have direct experience can chime in.

The other possible issue is if they got a load of bio diesel somewhere that loosened crap in the system.  That is not likely, as bio is usually put on hold in the winter months in cold regions.  Commercial bio is something like 10% and that may not be enough to loosen stuff up, but if they got some from someone who "brews", that could be an issue. 

Hopefully it will be filters and they can be on the way.

Jim

[NeoplanAN440]

i am in Alamogordo NM, about 150 miles south from them. i will be going up on i25 to ABQ this weekend if they still need help. or in worst case a place to park the rig.

Socorro is not the best place to get stuck. better service up in ABQ.

[gumpy]

Well, it wasn't filters. They replaced the filters, and Jack says it seems worse now. 

I relayed Jim's info on the 6.0 engine. That's what's in this van.

I think they're leaning toward replacing the fuel pump now.  I'm not overly optimistic here, as the van has less than 35K miles on it.
What really sucks is that this van has been highly modified to install a wheel chair lift. Part of the floor was lowered, which requried moving
some of the factory components. The work was "professionally done", if you know what I mean. 
So, this could be caused by any number of things.

They have the diagnostic computer hooked up to the engine, and it's showing no fault codes.

Thanks for the info and offers of help.

[Busted Knuckle]

Craig,
I have to second Jim's comments about the 6.0 "Ford built engine!" I love my FORDs, and I love the SUPERDUTY diesel trucks even more, but I have heard nothing but horror staries every since they went away from Navistar's 7.3!

The 6.0 has a terrible reputation and should be used as a boat anchor instead of a FORD truck power plant!
  BK 

[gumpy]

Well, I got a call from them. They are on their way, and it seems to be running ok.  M-I-A didn't know details and said F-I-A will call me tonight. But evidently it
was running better, so they must have found something. Maybe the fuel pump, but the call came awful early for that.

I'll update this thread when I find out, in case anyone want's to know the final outcome. 

[Busted Knuckle]

please do

[Gary '79 5C]

Craig,

Hopefully all is well, but would like to know what was the problem. I do not own a van, however here is some insight I have learned.

I have incurred fuel problems with a MB diesel, which has a 3 inch tank screen which the fuel flows thru and out a bottom hose, to the filters near the injection pump. I have had crud, gunk, etc blind over this screen & stop the engine. An hour later, I can continue to drive, but only till this screen becomes obscured again.
I also, now know if this happens, I can switch the supply & return lines in the engine comp to continue driving. This is contingent on having at least 1/2 tank of fuel ( the return line extends that much into the tank).

Not sure this adds value, but I fretted this until I pulled the tank & screen within. I thought mine was covered with asphalt.

Best of Luck !!!!

Gary

[Chopper Scott]

If you take a close look at the grill you will see that someone circled the problem!!